Father Steven Foppiano has never been one to back away from challenges.

Born and raised on his family’s farm in Stockton, Father Foppiano grew up working the land, growing cherry and walnut crops and helping run the family’s commercial packing company.

By the age of 28, he had graduated from San Diego State University with bachelor’s degrees in economics and business management.

His journey over the next several years placed him in administrative positions with some of the largest and most successful fruit canneries in California.

In 1989 Father Foppiano moved to Oroville to complete work on his master’s degree at California State University-Chico, and after being away from the Catholic Church for 15 years, joined St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Oroville. He not only rediscovered his faith, but found a calling to the priesthood, and in 1995 entered St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park to study for service in the diocese.

Father Foppiano was ordained a year ago, an event which he describes as “the best thing I’ve ever done with my life.”

After serving as parochial vicar at St. Clare Parish in Roseville, Father Foppiano arrived March 23, “right in the middle of Lent” to begin serving as pastor at St. Thomas More Parish in Paradise.

“The people were both very welcoming and very open to me,” said Father Foppiano of the 1,100-member parish community which includes many members of retirement age and a growing number of young families. “Many good people are offering to help in different ministries so we can move forward.”

Hitting the ground running, the new pastor has already identified the ministry that will receive his immediate attention.

“The big emphasis here will be the young people,” Father Foppiano said. “We’d like to get our teens very active in their faith.”

While he has already begun making plans to start a youth Mass in the near future, it is to St. Thomas More School that he has dedicated this energies, putting together a new administrative team for the 2003-2004 school year.

One reason is the school’s enrollment dropped from 154 to 72 this past year. The mission ahead, said Father Foppiano, is “to grow and build a foundation to ensure the school provides a spiritual base that reflects Christian values.”

To that end, he has asked Eugene Even, a member of the parish since 1970, to serve as business manager for St. Thomas More School. Even retired in 1990 following 40 years as a teacher and administrator in the state’s public school system. His expertise as an educator includes serving as superintendent of schools in Paradise Unified and Butte County and holding a master’s degree in business administration/education from UC Berkeley.

A seasoned veteran of parish fund raising, Even led a successful fund-raising drive in the mid-1980s to build St. Thomas More’s new church and is looking forward to helping invigorate and unify the school community.

“The school has fallen on some hard times, but we’re working very hard to get enrollment up,” said Even, who is contributing to solving budget issues by working as a volunteer.

He has held parent meetings and organized fund-raising activities to make sure one message is clear.

“The people of the parish know we have a great pre-school, and we’re going to offer a full day kindergarten and have a good staff. We’re rebuilding trust among parents making the school self-supporting again,” Even said.

Father Foppiano has also recently announced the appointment of Richard Priest as interim principal for the 2003-2004 school year. Priest is currently a teacher at St. Thomas the Apostle School in Oroville and has previously taught at Notre Dame School in Marysville.

He will replace current principal Thomas Huckins, who notified the parish he will not renew his contract.

In his new assignment at St. Thomas More, Priest will wear two hats as principal and classroom teacher.

“It’s a good combination,” he said. “The kids see you more and interact with you and realize you’re human.”

Priest sees his dual position as one of “being present in a leadership, pastoral role, giving guidance and being a fresh face...heading in a new direction.”

Father Foppiano likes the way people of his new parish community are taking charge of their ministries and is filled with hope for the future.

“I’m trying to encourage unity and keep people focused on being the body of Christ,” he said. “I have been very lucky to have been given this gift of priesthood in my life.”

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